Bill-coin-key case



April 18, 1939. c, E. MARTIN BILL-COIN-KEY CASE Filed Sept. 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l I 4 50 zz April 18, 1939. c. E. MARTIN BILL-COIN-KEY CASE Filed Sept. 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved integral bill-coin-key case comprising a coin receptacle having an open end which faces the open end of an inherently collapsible coin tray, the said case serving to readily and efliciently provide a collapsible tray which may be manually erected to permit coins to be selected therefrom.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bill-coin-key case having a key compartment on one side of the coin compartment and a compartment for bills on the opposite side of the coin compartment so that access may be had to the keys or to the bills without disturbing the contents of the coin compartment.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved collapsible coin tray having collapsible walls on three sides which when collapsed form a flap and permit the tray to be folded substantially fiat against the body of the case, the end wall folding inwardly of the tray and the ad joining side walls folding outwardly of the tray bottom. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a combined bill-coin-key case wherein the coins in the coin tray and the bills are visible simultaneously while lying in the same plane.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character described having relatively few and simple parts, and which is inexpensive to manufacture, durable. convenient and efficient in use and which avoids excessive bulkiness and superfluous elaborateness of design and construction.

With the above and other objects in view. the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim which forms part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the combined billcoin-key case with all compartments in open position and showing a collapsible coin tray in inherently collapsed position and in coasting relation with a coin receptacle.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device in reverse position. showing the key compartment side of the case.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device in closed position, showing the coin tray in collapsed position and folded substantially flat against the body of the case and releasably fastened thereto, the key compartment being also closed and releasably fastened along its side edges.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device in closed position as seen from the key compartment side.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral l 8 indicates the assembled bill-coinkey case comprising a piece of leather or similar material II preferably creased at its mid portion i2 to be foldable and forming flaps l3 and I4. Figure 1 shows the flap l3 forming the outer wall of a key compartment I5, best shown in open position in Figure 2 Figure 1 also shows the flap is forming one of the walls of a coin receptacle I! which is defined by the superimposed flaps I1, 29 secured by the three lines of stitching 20 which are continuous and function to close the recep tacle [1 on three sides, leaving an end 33 open.

Figure 2 shows a piece of leather or similar material I8 preferably creased at its mid portion [9 to be foldable and forming flaps I6 and 29. Figure 2 shows the flap l6 forming the collapsible coin tray 34. best shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 also shows the flap 29 forming the inner wall of n the key compartment I5 which has an anchor plate 35 from which. are pivotally suspended the usual series of key hook holders 36 which receive the keys (not shown).

Figure 1 shows a piece of leather 3'! superposed on the flap l4 and connected thereto by the three lines of stitching 20 which are continuous and function to form a bill or currency compartment 38 which has an open end 39-. It will be noted that the piece of leather 3'! is much shorter than the flap M and so that when bills folded at their mid portion are placed in the currency compartment, the end portions of the bills will be constantly exposed to View when the coin tray 34 is in open position.

It will be noted that the coin tray 34 comprises a bottom or flap l6 having integrally connected thereto an end wall 22 and two side walls 23 and 24. The end wall 22 and side walls 23 and 25 may be secured in any suitable manner at their junctions by overlapping ends 25, 21 and 26, 28. As shown in Figure 1, the end wall 22 and the side walls 23 and 24 are thick and being made of leather, obviously possess a considerable element of stiffness. The side walls 23 and 24 have diagonally creased ends adjoining the end wall 22. The ends assume a bevelled form when lying flat and assume an upright form in alinement with the side walls when in an upright position. The ends are thereby collapsible and erectable at their junctions with the end wall 22. The end wall 22 is foldable from a position substantially flat against the tray bottom l6 to a position substantially perpendicular to said bottom. The side walls 23 and 24 fold simultaneously with the end wall from a position substantially in alinement with the tray bottom to a position perpendicular with said bottom.

In the collapsed position of the coin tray 34, the end wall 22 folds inwardly of the tray and the side walls 23 and 24 fold outwardly of said tray. The end wall 22 is opposite and removed from the open end 33 of the coin receptacle l1.

It is to be noted that the side walls 23 and 24 stop short of the open end 33.

As best shown in Figure 1, it will be clearly seen that when the combination case is held in one hand with the tray in upright position and at an elevation below the coin receptacle I1, that the coins will slide out from a position of concealment in the receptacle to a position of exposure in the entire bottom area of the coin tray when the coins may be readily selected for withdrawal.

As shown in Figure 2, a loop or ring, etc. 32 may be attached to the creased portion l9 of the piece of leather l8 and may serve for releasably fastening a conventional chain thereto. A stud 30 and a complementary socket 3i serve for releasably securing the coin tray to the wall M.

It is to be noted that the coin tray folds on the crease line is in right angular relation to the crease line 12 of the key compartment closure flap l3 and facilitates the operation of the device.

As shown in the drawings, an interlocking fastening device 49 of the zipper type is used for releasably securing the key compartment closure l3 under operating conditions.

As shown in Figure l, bills are to be inserted while folded into the currency compartment 38 and are then in superposed relation with coins in the coin receptacle l'l. When the coins are removed from concealment in the coin receptacle, I1 into exposure in. the coin tray 34, the bills and coins are simultaneously visibleand this makes it more convenient for the user to select the desired combination of money at his pleasure.

It is to be noted that the overall width of the coin tray in collapsed position is suificiently wide to COVcI and protect from wear a substantial portion of the stitching.

While I have shown stitching 2| all around the closure flap l3 of the key compartment, I may secure the lining of the closure flap by adhesive or other suitable means.

In such an instance, because the line of crease I2 is at right angles to the line of crease 19 of the coin tray, an improvement is. gained by covering and protecting substantial portions of stitching 20 which is the general securing means for the main body of the case.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawings therefore are submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplification of the invention. Useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

I claim:

In a combined pocket case, a flexible receptacle having an open end and an inherently collapsible U-shaped coin tray integrally and pivotally secured thereto, said coin tray having a bottom and three integral pivotal walls erectable to said bottom, comprising one end wall and two integrally connected side walls, the ends of said walls adjacent to said opening stopping short of said opening and being thereby erectable to a position perpendicular to said bottom throughout their entire length, said end wall being foldable at its pivotal edge from a position fiat against the tray bottom to a position perpendicular to said bottom, said side walls having diagonally folded ends adjoining said end wall and being integral with said end wall and being thereby collapsible at their junctions with said end wall, said end wall and side walls having an element of stiffness causing said side walls to fold outwardly to a position in substantial alinement with the plane of said bottom simultaneously with the inward folding of said end wall, said end wall being erectable to a maintained upright position on said bottom by the inward movement of said side walls, said tray when held with its walls in said upright position and at an elevation below said receptacle being designed to receive coins sliding outwardly from said receptacle, said coins being thereby moved from a position of concealment in said receptacle to a position of full display in the entire bottom area of said tray.

CHARLES E. MARTIN. 

